National Cheshire Services in Uganda

A boy in a wheelchair, a boy with crutches and another boy playing with a man There are seven Cheshire Services in Uganda, providing varying levels of residential and rehabilitative services, access to education and vocational training.

Projects

Education

The St. Francis School for the Blind is the only school of its kind in Uganda and provides 291 visually impaired children with a formal education from pre-school to advanced secondary level. The children are encouraged to participate in extra-curricular activities such as music, crafts, drama and gardening and some recently participated in the Leonard Cheshire Disability-sponsored Young Voices on the UN Convention project.

Economic empowerment

Vocational skills are taught at many of the Cheshire Services in Uganda including at the St. Francis Rehabilitation Centre Butiru where both disabled and non-disabled young people are offered work-related training. At the Providence Cheshire Home Nkokonjeru vocational training in tailoring, knitting and baking are provided to the service users.

Health and rehabilitation

There are two health and rehabilitation service providers in Uganda: the Katalemwa Cheshire Home and the Buluba Cheshire Home. The Katalemwa Cheshire Home offers short-term medical rehabilitation for over 300 disabled children who are offered pre and post surgery care, and referrals to orthopaedic surgeons and hospitals. The home also has a well equipped workshop for the manufacture and maintenance of orthopaedic appliances. The Buluba Cheshire Home caters for 33 people with leprosy. The residents receive medical and social care and are provided with occupational therapy. They are also involved in a banana plantation project that provides the home with extra income and serves as therapy and recreation. Support is also provided to families with disabled relatives.

Community-based support

The St. Francis Rehabilitation Centre Butiru, the St. Francis Rehabilitation Cheshire Home and the Katalemwa Cheshire Home offer a range of community-based services. The Katalemwa Home provides follow up services through home-based care and trains parents and families in disability management, nutrition and farming. They also provide HIV/AIDS awareness for parents and help formation of parent support groups.

Contact

James Isiko
Chair
National Cheshire Council of Uganda
P.O. Box 70012, Kampala, Uganda

Tel: +256 41232462 / +256 752746920
Email: jwis@imul.com